Pond Construction

Last year i decided to build a pond. After visiting SOJ's home a few times and talking to her and her husband about building it i got permission from my wife to go for it.

I knew this would be a big project and i would have to tackle some things i was not familiar with like hooking up the plumbing and electrical work. It was also going to take some time to collect rock, dig, and build so i decided to keep it to myself until it was completed.

Only a few of my DG friends knew what i was up to and have stopped by to see the progress. SOJ was especially helpful with some large stone placement suggestions. And as Patti and SOJ had pointed out to me, i will be playing with getting the stone just right forever. And i already have plans to make a few changes although those will wait until next year. A lot of the larger stone were a few hundred pounds and my arms need a rest, and i have been neglecting much needed weeding.

This is a picture of the "finished" pond from our second story.

This is a couple before pictures. Missing from the finished pond is the celestrial white dogwood that was lost in the Oct. snow storm. This was a nice shaped tree and would have provided some needed shade. It was replaced by a stewarthia that had been 4' tall and in a container for a few years. It has taken to its new home and grown over a foot this spring.

This is a picture of trying to design the shape. One of the challenges in building this was the slope of the yard and the french drain that is here for run-off from the house. At first i wanted to have the pond between the shade bed and large middle bed. There would have been many roots to deal with from maple trees and really not enough space. Then my wife pointed out that it should be out in front of the patio so it could be seen from the patio deck and house.

Oh, Bill....I just love it! And of course Cindy was right....it looks wonderful from the patio....I'm jealous, jealous!

By placing the pond here i knew that it would result in a large loss of open grass space. I had plans not only for the pond, it would be landscaped with jm's, conifer's, azalea, a dogwood, hydrangea, japanese iris and other plantings.

As much as i talk about removing grass it took months and several grass removals to where it ended up. I do like some open grass and the bed also needed to blend with other beds around it. A lot of time was spent viewing from out deck and the second floor before i finally decided on the final bed design.

All the turf was wheel barreled up to the top yard in front of the house to expand another bed and create a U design to plant a large peony bed with dahlia in between. I think patti's comment was, "so you brought all that turf UP HILL?". Can't waste good soil and it is only exercise after all.

thanks marilyn - i have some pictures to post so stand by.

So here is the picture of what i thought would be the shape of the pond. Because of the slope of the yard i had envisioned a stream coming down the side here with some curves, and after banking to the left a wider stream that would be the beginning of the pond with maybe a foot of water, and then the pond.

In the distance you can see my stone supply. I ended up doubling this amount and using most of the large stone i had stored behind my shed. That was easily six trips a day with a pick-up for a full month to collect that amount of stone. I had to roll/slide the heavy large ones into the pick-up and could only take 4 at a time because of the weight.

This message was edited Jul 1, 2012 5:52 PM

Now came the start of construction in earnest. I can tell you moving around a 30'x50' liner is difficult. It was hard just to roll on the two wheeler into the back yard from the street when it was delivered.

This was the stage of the rock supply i had used and had not finished the pond or even began the stream. I can honestly say i did not look forward to the 8 or 9 days of bringing more stone to the house.

This message was edited Jul 1, 2012 5:56 PM

It took four full days to stack this stone in the pond.

And here it is a couple days later after the big rain storm we had this early this spring. Notice that the water level at the ledge is not level!!

I had been using a 4' level and as i was digging out the ledge would check to see it was at the same height. Well that did not work. So four full days of stacking stone were removed in one day. I also found two small turtles in there which was kinda cool, i moved them back to the "real" pond.

I had to remove the liner and get back in there and dig out the ledge lower and level. What was nerve wracking was that i had already installed the skimmer to the liner so i had to be very careful not to break the seal between them. To be sure it would be level i used the 10' 2x3 from side to side.

In addition to lowering the ledges i also noticed the i miss calculated the slope in the yard. The wider section of stream did not come close to being deep enough to have a foot of water as it entered the pond. As there was stone ledge i ran into while digging i knew it was as deep as it would get. So all the dirt (and then some) from leveling the ledge would be used to make that section of the stream thinner as the rest of the stream.

Just exercise right.................?

This message was edited Jul 1, 2012 6:01 PM

This is the re-stacking of the pond and working up the stream.

One of the key finds i was very lucky to get is this 4' wide piece of slate for the top of the waterfall.

And here are some picture of the first test run of the pond.


And with mr. murphy hanging around, there was a leak, in fact the pond lost 4" of water over night. Fortunately it was in the stream and i knew it was probably where i had only over lapped and not glued the liner together. First i did check all the plumbing connections which were solid. I had to remove a 10' section of rock to get to the liner to be able to have enough room to get the liner glued.

This message was edited Jun 25, 2012 9:18 AM

This message was edited Jul 1, 2012 6:04 PM

Here are a few shots of the final pond.

I also raised the ground level on this side of the pond to offset the slope in the yard. Moved about 15 yards of dirt here.

This message was edited Jun 25, 2012 9:46 AM

Amazing and awesome, Bill! And the water is so clear! :). I just showed it to Hank, and after a big WOW! He said it reminds him of the upper Hudson, the ultimate compliment from him! You knocked it out of the park on this one. That third stone from the left approaching the pond sure looks like one we're missing here. :O

I see the waterfall....closeup possible?? Looks really gorgeous from all angles!

A home run for sure!!! Great job, wha. Truly stupendous! Thank you for keeping us in the dark, it was a pleasant surprise!

For those of you who remember from the project thread, this is the 25' retaining wall i spoke about building. I built this for several reasons. First i wanted to plant several of the small conifers i purchased last year that will grow to be 6' tall or so as a back drop to the water fall and to make it easier to mow the steep section of yard. By next year the whole section of yard will only have a grass path and will be planted out with conifers and jm's mostly.

Secondly this is where the gutter down spot is and in heavy rain a small stream will form and water/dirt would flow right into the pond creating a real mess. Which it did a few weeks back. Last year i dug out a 6' long X 3' deep trench for the run off to go into. Except i did not have the gutter going into the trench - it does now:) I spent a day draining and cleaning the pond which was not fun.

So on top of the trench this wall should help any excess water in a really bad storm. It is constructed with large substantial stones that are not going anywhere and provide a seat to look into the backyard.

And finally, i just think it looks good behind the waterfall and the large stones that are placed there to catch your eye.

This message was edited Jul 1, 2012 6:09 PM

And the last two pictures of this thread.

We are happy how it came out. Now my wife even comes outside and sits on the stone seats placed around the edge. There are two large black slate stones where you can sit with your feet in the water. Frogs have moved in and birds are visiting regularly to take a bath, one oriole in particular likes to stand in the stream daily for a quick dip.

All that remains is to add some water plants. At this time i am leaning towards just adding a lotus plant.

The pond itself is 14'x14' and the stream is about 50' long.

WOW!!!! that looks A M A Z I N G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks jan and jen

a lot of work and worth it.

Fantastic job Bill!!

I agree with all above.

Wha,now that the cat is out of the bag, I can crow that I saw it in it's youth, but can't say that I even could imagine how GRAND it became!!! Wonderful is trite for such a feat done with imagination,sweat and tears. I did get a sweaty hug that day that I visited you and saw your latest project. I can't believe you took it apart, or maybe I do remember that we had days of re-stacking rocks too on our very small, compared to yours and SOJ's, endless streams project. It will bring you nothing but joy and a billion happy birds. Glad you took the plunge! I will bring my bathing suit next time. Patti

louise there was almost a stone from your property used - it was the one you kindly let me get for a seat - i ended up using a flatter one and moving yours to replace it - it came out great.

thanks patti - feel free to wade in - i have:)

Too bad that I am siting at Bradley awaiting our flight to Chicago then to New Orleans or I might have made a detour up 119 to take a dip. I would have had time as our 1:50 flight has been changed to 4:20 . Grrrrrrrr.Patti

have a safe flight

Holy crap, Bill! Gorgeous! How long did the entire project take? What brand kit did you use?

Spectacular doesn't quite cut it...Absolutely spectaculous!!! I love it...job well done I must say Bill!

Bill, you have selected the perfect stones for every single part of it. The end effect is amazing and beautiful. I'm volunteering ahead of time to help you with the busywork of an RU next summer so everyone can see this for themselves. :). Tell Cindy all she will have to do is make her potato salad. Lol. Think we can all fit in the pond at the same time? Huge Kudos to you!

Donniebrook, Bill and your DH will be at the pitch, so they won't be taking up room in the pool. Plenty of room for us. I won't miss the next one. Patti

This message was edited Jun 25, 2012 3:05 PM

i posted on the project thread - it took from October until last week - still will be adding some plants to fill in more until the stuff newly planted grows up, lot's of tiny conifers that will grow up at some point - just spotted some blood grass that is buried by a jm that can be moved and some close growing geraniums that will fill in some of the slope that gets full sun.

my un-paid consultant on this was diana at topiary gardens who helped choose the equipment for me - i went with atlantic for the spillway and skimmer - no bio-falls or filter as i do not plan on fish - however it is in full sun and have had to use a lot of algaecide waiting for the microbes to get started - we will see how this works out if i have to i will add a bio-falls next year as i may move the one i have back a bit next year. The pump is supposed to be one of the best, it is a half horse Tsurumi, could have probably got away with a 1/3 horse in hindsight, i did include a check value and ball valve to adjust flow, it is a bit tight in the skimmer.

you will notice i got one of those fake stones to cover the skimmer - it looked fake - so i ended up using flat stone and had a couple nice pieces of thin granite that i split to disquise the skimmer opening.

so if anyone needs a 36"x36"x8" fake stone let me know and i will give you a deal! :)

cindy might be required to cook the hot dogs as well - if i remember correctly memory described in exacting detail of how they cooked and tasted that DG almost had the post removed due to its content :)

yes, louise i can have an RU early next year with your help, thinking earlier in June when the jm's still have some color. as long as some giant project doesn't come to me.

Why no fish?

thanks ronnie

fish make for a dirty pond and/or much more care to keep it clean.

OH I see, I thought just the opposite, they would help keep it clean eating bugs and stuff.

Fish are a MAJOR pain. Would never recommend. You become a slave to them for feeding, messiness and water quality.